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Post Conference Recap
Realcomm | IBcon 2025 brought cutting-edge innovation to Savannah, blending historic Southern charm with a fresh, modern edge. The newly renovated, LEED Gold-certified Savannah Convention Center offered smart, well-designed spaces and a scenic waterfront setting - an ideal backdrop for connection, collaboration, and cultivating ideas.
Attendees gave high marks for strong content, meaningful conversations, and real business value. We appreciate everyone who contributed to making this year's event a success!
Check Out the 2025 Highlights
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10TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING AND CHARITY EVENT
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A picture-perfect day at The Club at Savannah Harbor brought together industry leaders for golf, good company, and a great cause. The outing raised funds for Stacks + Joules, a nonprofit training the next generation of building automation pros. Big thanks to co-chairs Robert Entin (Vornado) and Todd Januzzi (Paramount Group) for making it happen. |
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INAUGURAL PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
This year we got into the swing of things with our first official Pickleball Tournament held at The Club at Savannah Harbor. Real estate and tech pros enjoyed an afternoon of friendly, round-robin competition while raising funds for Stacks + Joules. It was a fun and energetic way to connect before the main conference began. |
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PRECON EVENTS
This year's Precon Day featured 10 focused events covering key topics shaping real estate and technology in the built environment. |
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Deep Dives with Purpose
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Cybersecurity Forum (with RECC): Real-world strategies to stay ahead of evolving threats. |
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CIO Roundtable: The 22nd annual event brought tech leaders together for open discussions on AI, cybersecurity, aligning technology with business goals, and more! |
Targeted Programs, Real Impact
The afternoon offered specialized programs tailored to different industry roles:
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IB Boot Camp: Shifted focus to AI with practical insights and use cases for applying intelligent tech in smart buildings |
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Smart Building Integrator Summit: Covered how MSIs and SIs are adapting to new standards, cybersecurity, and technologies shaping intelligent buildings. |
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Sustainable Impact Forum: Highlighted new tech and strategies driving decarbonization and net-zero goals in commercial real estate. |
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C4SB & Linux Foundation: an update on C4SB's progress in open-source tools and smart building interoperability. |
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New Additions That Turned Heads
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BrickRECcon25: Featured ROI of open standards in smart buildings |
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ELECTRIFY: Focused on the transformative potential of DC-powered buildings. |
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Smart Building Data Standards: 15 top organizations gathered and explored advancing interoperability and IP-based solutions for buildings. |
Beyond the AI Buzz
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BuildingsAI Symposium: closed Precon Day with a deep dive into AI's evolving role in building operations. |
WELCOME RECEPTION NETWORKING
The scenic and historic Savannah riverfront provided the perfect backdrop for this year's Welcome Reception. Paired with delicious food and refreshing drinks, the event offered a lively chance to reconnect with peers, build new relationships, and set the tone for an exciting, action-packed week ahead. It was wonderful to see so many returning attendees, the heart of our collaborative community. |
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GENERAL SESSION
This year's theme, The New ROI: Return on Innovation, focused on aligning technology with strategic business goals. Leaders shared insights on real estate transformation through sustainability, innovation, and digital adaptation. Brett Hitt of HITT Contracting delivered a compelling keynote that offered a rare C-suite perspective on fostering innovation from the top, highlighting their new state-of-the-art headquarters as a model of tech-driven progress. Following this, the Realcomm and IBcon co-chairs shared frontline insights on AI and industry shifts. |
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At Realcomm | IBcon, we showcase technology that disrupts the built environment. This year, DONNA, a humanoid robot from IRIS Technologies and The Preiss Company, impressed by transforming leasing, maintenance, and tenant engagement. The General Session closed with Rob Teel (Yardi) on key tech trends and AI, Umar Riaz (EY) on their 2024 CIO survey accelerating tech adoption, and Edi and Etrit Demaj (KODE Labs) demonstrating AI-driven smart building optimization.
DIGIE & LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Congratulations to the 2025 Digie and
Lifetime Achievement Award winners!
Awards were given to recognize those companies, real estate projects, technologies, and people that have gone above and beyond to positively impact our industry using technology, automation, and innovation. Special congratulations to this year's Julie Devine Digital Impact Award winners: Soheil Pourhashemi, Brookfield; Jim Carr, BGO; Nicholas Stello, Vornado; and Fred Gordy, Michael Baker International. And watch out for the Rising Star award winner Devon Newton, Stiles. |
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The 2025 Lifetime Achievement award was presented to MRI Software's Patrick Ghilani, a recognized global thought leader who has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving real estate operations through technology and innovation.
The Industry Impact Award, given only in select years, honors exceptional leadership in advancing commercial real estate through technology and innovation. This year, Jim Whalen of BXP received this distinction for his visionary contributions and lasting impact on the industry.
EDUCATION AND BEST PRACTICE SHARING
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Over 200 thought leaders led more than 50 breakout sessions and brought the Return on Innovation theme to life by turning emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, ESG, and more, into real business value through practical insights and case studies. The sessions were fast paced, relevant, and full of actionable takeaways, offering conversations and connections you won't find at any other conference in the industry! |
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REALCOMM LIVE
Over two days, the Realcomm Live news desk featured 40+ live interviews that discussed various industry trends with global experts from companies such as Netflix, BXP, COPT Defense Properties, JBG Smith, JLL, and more! |
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EXHIBIT HALL
The Exhibit Hall at Realcomm | IBcon 2025 was a vibrant hub of innovation, with over 150 exhibitors and sponsors from around the world showcasing the latest in real estate tech, automation, and smart buildings. Attendees also explored multiple Technology Showcase Pavilions, including Cybersecurity, Energy & Sustainability, Electrify/DC Power, 5G | In-Building Wireless, Healthy Buildings, Launchpad, and Health and Wellness, with hands-on demos and industry insights.
A huge thank you to all the companies who brought their energy, ideas, and solutions to the floor. Your participation continues to push the boundaries of what's possible and makes this one of the most dynamic exhibit experiences in the industry! |
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REALTALK SUNRISE SESSION
RealTalk kicked off Day 2 with an engaging conversation on the power of leadership and mentorship in real estate. Emerging and seasoned professionals came together to explore how meaningful and purpose-driven guidance can shape careers, open doors, and elevate the entire industry. |
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SMARTER CONNECTED BUILDINGS FORUM
The Smarter Connected Buildings Forum returned for its second year to a packed room, sparking high-level talks on IP-centric strategies and real innovations shaping future-ready smart buildings. It was a standout moment at IBcon, giving attendees a unique opportunity to learn from leaders shaping the next chapter of intelligent buildings.
NEW! WORKSHOP | AGENTIC AI INNOVATION EXCHANGE:
STRATEGY AND USE CASES FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The Agentic AI Innovation Exchange debuted to a full room, offering an interactive look at AI systems that learn and adapt, sharing practical insights from early use cases to strategic goals, and sparking conversations on preparing teams for the next wave of AI in buildings.
BEST PRACTICE SHOWCASES
A longtime favorite at the conference, the Best Practice Showcases once again delivered, sparking dynamic conversations through one-on-one interactions with project leaders behind some of the most impactful smart building implementations around the world.
The IBcon Smart Building Showcase highlighted many leading projects across corporate and commercial real estate. Project leaders shared insights from advanced integrations to power retrofits and more, and demonstrated how to build ecosystems of trusted partners. These projects define the flexible, future-ready spaces shaping where we live and work. Some of the projects featured were: Hitt Headquarters, 110 East, One Congress, Rockefeller Global HQ, and more! |
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The AI | Process Automation Showcase returned with several innovative projects, offering attendees firsthand insights and case studies on AI's transformative real-world applications. Showcase included: Brookfield Properties, BXP, Boxer Property, Carr, PGIM, and more!
Realcomm | IBcon 2025 delivered another unforgettable experience, blending unmatched content, real-world innovation, and powerful industry connections. As attendees, exhibitors, and thought leaders continue to share, there simply is no other conference that brings together this level of insight, relevance, and energy. For 27 years, it has remained the go-to event for those shaping the future of real estate through technology, automation, and innovation.
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